As the calendar turns a page and moves into 2018, we head into Triangle Restaurant Week. If you’re not familiar with Triangle Restaurant Week, the offering is usually a 3-course prix fixe lunch menu ($10 or $15) and/or 3-course prix fixe dinner menu ($20 – $35). With 98 restaurants on the list, I’ve pored through the menus to find the best, most delicious deals for your dining dollar.

It took a bit of time to review the menus but here are the choices that caught my eye. One of the keys to Triangle Restaurant Week menus is dessert since for the most part, the deals are usually priced pretty close to what you would pay for an appetizer and entree. So the real benefit in my mind, is the dessert! If I’ve got a review for the restaurant, click on the restaurant link to get the full details. And there’s a handful of menus still missing. Other than that, get out there, eat and enjoy…

Can you believe it? 2018 is right around the corner so if you’re looking for a great restaurant to ring in the new year, check out these options I’ve run into over the past couple of weeks. I’ll be updating this post as we get closer to 12/31 and I’ve included links to my review if you’d like to learn more about the restaurant…

There’s nothing like a good slice of pie from time to time and with the new Pie Hole in Durham, that’s exactly what you’re gonna get. Slices of pie and maybe a savory hand pie for good measure! The Pie Hole Durham is the first East coast location for this small chain of pie shops (SoCal and Japan) and it’s definitely something to get excited about. I had a chance to visit on a media preview and was pretty impressed. Here’s what to expect when you visit, the Pie Hole officially opens up on 9/4!

Order counter at the Pie Hole in Durham – nctriangledining.com

In a newish building on Durham’s 9th Street, Pie Hole sits neatly on the corner along with some other cool restaurants: Jamba Juice (only one in the Triangle) and Zenfish (Poke). A large concrete patio sits next to the building so you’ll be able to enjoy your pie AND fresh air when the weather cools down. Inside, I meet up with Amber from Bites of Bull City and the owners of the Pie Hole (Young and Surelyn). Tonight we’ll be sampling pretty much anything we want off the menu, note that the Pie Hole also serves up coffee, wine and beer to enjoy with your pie.

The space at Pie Hole is modern and hipster cafe with a casual feel, Bull City Design is behind the custom wood bar top and tabletops (local reclaimed wood). On the menu, they’ve got five or so savory hand pies ($8.25), eight sweet pies by the slice ($5 to $7.50) along with some muffins and extras. A lit pastry case shows off the sweet pies to get you hungry and they’re be rotating flavors throughout the year based upon the season. They’ve also got some interesting, modern flavors like Earl Grey Tea and Cereal Killer cheesecake for curious pie-eaters. For my visit, I decide to go with the shepherd’s pie, salted caramel pecan and Mom’s double-crust blueberry. I’m given a number and out in the dining room meet up with John (Triangle Explorer) and Kathy from WRAL Out and About. The two of them are just finishing up their feast so we talk pie while I wait for my food!

Dinner feast at the Pie Hole in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Soon enough my pies come out and it’s time to dig in and really see what the Pie Hole is about. The shepherd’s pie is solid, full of gravy, slices of beef and tangy carrot. There’s enough here for a decent meal and definitely enough when paired with a sweet pie. The salted caramel pecan is a brilliant idea, pulling together the richer, sweetness of the caramel along with the crunchy pecans, a big thumbs up here. But the killer pie for me was Mom’s double-crust blueberry! With a sugar-speckled top crust, the pie is stacked deep with pungent blueberries just about spilling out of the slice. The tender crust is barely able to hold the fruit in and it’s a great finishing dessert. I’d have to say if you had to choose, I’d go with the sweet pies and dessert but you can obviously double down with a savory pie at about $15 for your meal.

I had a chance to chat with one of the owners, Young and while he’s originally from NYC and GA, he’s now proud to call the Triangle his home. With a couple of other locations potentially on tap, the Pie Hole Durham has a large kitchen, ready to supply any additional Pie Holes in the area! He’s excited to bring this unique concept to the area and feed y’all out there! And given that we no longer have any dedicated pie-focused restaurants in the area (bye-bye, PieBird), it’s an easy choice. The Pie Hole Durham will be in soft open mode over the Labor Day weekend so stop on by and check it out! Just be aware that there’s some flex as to when they will exactly be open to the public so you might want to call ahead, enjoy!

If you’re a foodie and live in Raleigh, well I’ve got some good news for you. It’s that time of the year for the Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week from August 21 – 27! Admittedly there are a bunch of restaurant weeks to keep up with but this one’s pretty simple since it’s focused on the Oak City. And it’s a bit more affordable with lunches in the $5 to $10 range along with dinners at $21 and $31. I’ve already started to scan the menus (some are still coming in) and setting up a plan of attack! But here’s what caught my eye on the menus. I’m including links to my reviews when available!

18 Seaboard Restaurant – This long-time Raleigh favorite serving up Southern cuisine always does a nice job for restaurant week! The charred watermelon gazpacho and classic shrimp and grits would be on my mind.

Carolina Ale House – It’s simple, it’s casual and if you like sports, you can’t go wrong with Carolina Ale House. The food has definitely gotten better, in my opinion and the Glenwood Avenue location can’t be beat with its patio!

Five Star – Another Raleigh favorite, Five Star has really improved its food game over the years. And with a $21 dinner menu for 4 different starters and 5 mains, you’ll find something here to keep you happy (heatseeker shrimp, crispy sesame beef).

Plates Neighborhood Kitchen – Plates always does a great job for restaurant week and given their excellent service and quiet patio, always highly recommend a visit here! The sticky toffee pudding is the signature dessert to get.

Provenance – A fancier, avant-garde restaurant for Raleigh, they recently changed chefs but I’ve continued to hear good things about Provenance. The chicken confit buns and farmer’s agnolotti sound pretty tasty to me.

Royale – Given the $31 three-course meal option, you’re going to get a great value at Royale! I’d have my eye on the garlic soup, duck leg confit and profiteroles given the classic French menu here.

Trophy Tap & Table – And I’ve had the chance to eat at Trophy Tap & Table once and was impressed with their simple but well-done eats. They’ve got a nice menu of 3 appetizers, 3 entrees and 3 desserts covering Southern eats and a lot more. A nice deal at $21.

The NC Triangle has been on a roll with boutique hotels over the past couple of years. From the 21C Museum Hotel and Durham Hotel out in the Bull City to the Aloft Hotel in Raleigh, these hip, urban hotels usually feature some interesting retail offerings like cool restaurants, stores and more. The upcoming opening of the Unscripted Hotel out in Durham is the latest in a wave of these new stay and play destinations!

Located in the old Jack Tar Motel on Corcoran Street, the new Unscripted hosts 74 guest rooms, five food and beverage establishments and a 3rd floor rooftop pool and lounge. During a media visit we got to experience life Unscripted as their tagline would say! It’s a funky little motel that’s been left in a slightly retro, 70’s decor state. Inside Unscripted you’ve got an interesting lounge and coffee bar area known as the Studio and Allday. You can enjoy a cocktail, coffee and small plates in a very stylish space.

Hotel room at the Unscripted Hotel Durham – NC Triangle Dining

Moving out to the hotel itself, we toured a couple of rooms and like any throw-back experience, entry to the rooms is through individual doorways looking out onto a small pool. Inside, the rooms are decorated with bright, geometric wallpaper and modern furniture. The rooms are average-sized and look comfortable if not luxurious. And the big question is whether you want one overlooking the pool because…

Pool area at the Unscripted Hotel Durham – NC Triangle Dining

Because the Patio and pool is really what Unscripted is all about! Open to the public and serving a short menu of plates, sandwiches and entrees, Unscripted Hotel’s pool is really designed to be a scene for the local Durham crowd. Large white square umbrellas, soft furniture and a patio bar set this place up to be a hopping weekend destination for drinks and eats. We got to sample some tasty bacon sliders, sushi cones, lamb lollipops and more during our media visit. It was all quite good but I’ll have to come back for a full visit to review this dining option.

Sliders at the Unscripted Hotel Durham – NC Triangle Dining

Separate from the local, Unscripted Hotel food, there will be a Neomonde, Jack Tar Diner (folks from Pizzeria Toro) and Pour Taproom (already open) on the street level. I’ve had a chance to visit Pour which was pretty cool! A modern beer bar with 60+ self-serve taps paid for with a magic band.

Pour Taproom at the new Unscripted Hotel Durham – NC Triangle Dining

The grand opening for Unscripted Durham was pretty impressive and fun. It represents another twist and turn in the Durham entertainment scene as we move from hipster to a more urban, cosmopolitan feel. In the Triangle, while Raleigh plays it pretty close to the vest, the Bull City has pressed forward with some interesting new concepts and ideas around food, dining and entertainment. And while they won’t all be huge hits, they certainly are keeping things lively in Durham and the Unscripted Hotel is one perfect example of pushing the envelope for the area. So are you ready to live life Unscripted? Durhamites, you’re about to find out….

In celebration of the hotel’s grand opening, locals can take advantage of a special staycation package, including 10 percent off a room, free parking and late check-out (Use promo code LOCALS when booking). Now through Sept. 5, travelers can also enjoy 10 percent off room bookings, as well as two complimentary drinks at The Patio, bike rentals for two and late check-out by using the code OPENING when making a reservation.